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in that Agreement, nor would the Proprietaries of Pensilvania
have been put under the Necessity of applying to obtain (if
they can) the Aid and Assistance of the high Court of Chan-
cery to strengthen and enforce the Execution of that Agree-
ment, if that Agreement had still subsisted and continued
good and effectual in Law; Notwithstanding all which plain
and well known Truths several weak minded Persons have
been so far infatuated as in a tumultuous and riotous Manner to
meet & assemble together in Baltimore County aforesaid with
some bold and insolent Disturbers of the Peace of this Prov-
ince in Order to oppose and resist the Officers of Justice in
the Execution of their Duty, and to screen the aforesaid illegal
Confederates and their Abettors from the Justice and Laws of
this Province; As such daring and dangerous Attempts and
Practices affect in a very particular manner the Peace and
Happiness of all his Majestys Subjects in this Province and
may if not timely discouraged and prevented be attended
with the most fatal Consequences; We have thought fit by
this Our Proclamation as well to assure every Inhabitant of
this Province, who behaves himself in a peaceable manner
subject to the Laws of this Province of the utmost Protection
and Countenance of thiis Government, as to endeavour the
apprehending and bringing to condign Punishment any
of the Actors in or Promoters of the illegal Combinations
and tumultuous meetings aforesaid; And for those Purposes
We hereby strictly require all Iudges Justices Magistrates and
other Officers within this Province to be vigilant and active in
their several Stations for maintaining Peace and Good Order
within their respective Counties strictly charging and com-
manding the high Sheriffs of the several Counties within this
Province especially the high Sheriffs of the Counties of Balti-
more and Cecil to hold themselves in Readiness with the Peo-
ple of their respective Counties to suppress all illegal Commo-
tions and Disturbances and disperse all tumultuous and riotous
Assemblys and Meetings either by apprehending and securing
all such Persons as have been the Incendiaries Abettors
Authors or Parties in any of the aforemencon'd Practices
or tumultuous Meetings or shall hereafter be a Promoter or
Promoters aiding or assisting in any other Disturbances for
the future; And in General that the said Sheriffs exert the legal
Powers wherewith they are invested for the Defence and Pro-
tection of the Inhabitants who are hereby required on the Call
of the respective Sheriffs to give due Attendance and assist
them in the lawful Discharge of their Duty in the Premises
And for the more effectually securing the Peace of this Prov-
ince by bringing to a just and legal Punishment such Persons
who at present are known to have been either Promoters Aid-
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Lib. M.
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